FP flash in P-mode?

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I recently bought a EOS 30E, with a speedlight 420EX. Although the manual of my camera states that a higher shutterspeed (than the x-syncspeed which is 1/125 on my camera)can be obtained in all the creativezone modes, if my speedlight is set on FP (highsyncspeed), in P-mode it doesn't. In P-mode the shutterspeed stays on 1/125, and the aperture fluctuates depending on the available light. I can't influence the shutterspeed to a higher level. Is this logigal? Do I interpret the manual wrong?

Thanks for your reply.

-- Mireille Deverfe (mireille@setarnet.aw), March 03, 2002

Answers

In P mode, FP flash is only offered if the SUGGESTED shutter speed is faster than X-sync. If the SUGGESTED shutter speed is slower than X-sync, you cannot accidentally shift P mode into FP mode.

If you want to test this, meter in P mode with ASA 6400.

I guess this is logical on the Elan 7E, since X-sync flash makes most efficient use of flash power and therefore minimizes flash battery usage and recycle time.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 03, 2002.


Thanks for your reply. I'll try and set (dial) the filmspeed to ASA 6400. Just to find out. Anyhow, if that's the case, I guess I can never look forward to set a higher shutterspeed than 1/125 in P-mode using FP, since I live in the tropics and use mostly ASA 100 film. Because even pointing the lens directly (shortly ofcourse)to the bright sun didn't influence the shutterspeed.

-- Mireille@setarnet.aw (mireille@setarnet.aw), March 03, 2002.

Perhaps I missed it, but could you achieve High-sync speed in P mode with ISO 6400? Did you remember to set the switch for HSS on the flash? See: Canon Technical Report

P mode is designed for FULLY AUTOMATIC operation if you are not sure what you are doing. If you take more control of your flash exposure using FEC and Av, Tv, or M mode (particularly M mode), I am sure that you will be rewarded with better flash pictures. See: Kodak website

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 03, 2002.


That's what my question is all about. The manual says that when the 420EX is set to highspeed sync mode (FP flash) it can synchronize at all shutterspeeds, even those faster than 1/125, and that it works in the creative zone modes (p.87). Page 59 includes the compatibility of high speed sync in P-mode. In the speedlight manual on page 25 is written that "high speed sync can be used in the

, , , an modes. Well indeed I can set higher shutterspeeds in Tv, Av, and in M mode, except in P-mode. So if I want to use flash in daylight situations, I cannot choose a shutterspeed (shift) higher than the X- sync on my camera in P-mode. thanks again

-- Mireille Deverfe (mireille@setarnet.aw), March 03, 2002.


I ask again: Are you saying that your EOS 30 will not HSS at ISO 6400?

The P-limit behaviour is not incompatible with the specification that the flash will function in all modes when high-speed sync is selected (by the camera). The undocumented feature is that the photographer cannot SHIFT P mode from x-sync into HSS-sync.

No amount of talking, complaining, or typing will fix that. But simply changing into M mode will let you take your photograph.

There are many other operational inconsistencies. E.g. MLU and AEB; metering with manual lenses;P-mode manaula flash. Rather than lament the PROBLEMS, I prefer to find and share SOLUTIONS (lots are discussed on the Elan 7E group) to overcome the limitations and concentrate on taking good pictures.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 03, 2002.



May I conclude (to be short) that your answer to my question is, that this is (or might be) an operational inconsistensie, and that when FP is selected in P-mode one actually cannot shift to a higher shutterspeed than 1/125?

-- Mireille Deverfe (mireille@setarnet.aw), March 03, 2002.

Yes. That's what this paragraph means:

In P mode, FP flash is only offered if the SUGGESTED shutter speed is faster than X-sync. If the SUGGESTED shutter speed is slower than X-sync, you cannot accidentally shift P mode into FP mode.

And I ask again:

Are you saying that your EOS 30 will not HSS at ISO 6400?

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 03, 2002.


The Elan has many exposure and flash modes from automatic, semiautomatic and manual. If you wish to point 'n shoot, use the Basic Zone or P mode. If you desire partial control, use Tv or Av modes. If you need 100% control, use M mode.

No EOS SLR has a shiftable program in P mode while flash is enabled. If you want FP Flash, that implies you wish to take control of camera operations, i.e., you specifically know what you want. Subsequently, use Tv mode for semiautomatic control or M mode for full control. P mode is designed for automatic point 'n shoot flash operation and offers little manual control (Flash AE Comp only). Canon designed the modes to be different so that users may have a choice or features and operational preferences.

Although FP Flash theoretically works in P mode, it requires extreme circumstances to automatically engage: high ISO and bright light. Probably Canon programmed it this way because shutter speeds faster than normal sync reduce flash range considerably, and thus wrote the algorithms to favor range and coverage. They really should explain the more clearly situation in the manual.

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), March 03, 2002.


I think Mireille means the Exposure Compensation function, and I guess we will never know the answer to the question if the EOS 30 does HSS at ISO 6400.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 04, 2002.

Thanks Puppy Face. And for Julian, I tried (dial) ISO 6400 -but considering the time of day (it was already dark)-, it didn't led to a faster shutterspeed than 1/125. So I suspected that I should try it at daylight. I'll let you know anyway.

Thanks again for your input.

-- Mireille Deverfe (mireille@setarnet.aw), March 04, 2002.



To Julian,

Setting ISO 6400, and pointing towards the bright sun gave 4000/22 (28mm)with flash in FP and camera in P-mode.

-- Mireille Deverfe (mireille@setarnet.aw), March 04, 2002.


Thank you Mireille. You are lucky to have so much sun in Aruba. :-) Have fun shooting, but do not point your lens at the sun for too long, or you may burn a hole in the shutter curtain.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), March 04, 2002.

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